Oh, forgot to mention another instance where the quantity
dispensed may be less than what the prescriber ordered...
in my practice, if I do not have sufficient stock on hand
to completely fill the prescription...say I only have 20
tablets of the Zoloft in the previous example instead of
the 30 allowed by insurance...I handle this in one of a
couple of ways.  My first step is ALWAYS inform my patient
that I do not have enough on hand to fill the prescription.  
Then, I offer a suggestion:  Either we can fill the Rx for
the amount I have on hand, and add a "partial refill", or
we can run the fill through the process for 30 tablets, and
I give my patient sort of an "I.O.U." for the other 10, which
I can usually have in stock the next day, or, I offer to see
if there is another pharmacy in town that does have sufficient
stock on hand to fill the full Rx.
I don't know if that is the answer you were looking for or not.  
I can only tell you how I treat my patients.  My little pharmacy
isn't the biggest or busiest in town, but I try to make sure my
patients are taken care of in regards to their medication needs.  
C U L8R!
Wiz  <{;-)

Wizard57M
Glenn Gilbreath Jr.
Registered Pharmacist
http://members.surfbest.net/wizard57m@surfbest.net/index.htm
-- DOS Internet, Close Windows and Keep the Internet Open! --

Hmm, OK, I'll "bite"...as a pharmacist practicing in
Oklahoma, USA, I cannot by state law increase the number
of dosage units on the prescription...neither for some
insurance company requirement, nor patient request...
without contacting the prescribing physician prior to
the quantity increase.  I can, however, dispense less
than a "full prescription" if requested by the patient,
or if their insurance allows some smaller days supply
maximum quantity...for example, a patient hands me a
prescription for 100 Zoloft 50 mg tablets, 1 tablet
daily.  They have a prescription insurance plan which
only covers a 30 day supply maximum...I can then only
dispense 30 tablets...or, if the patient has no insurance
and little money, but still needs to take the medication,
I may even offer to dispense a partial prescription.
In these cases, I add additional refills to the Rx, enough
to equal the original quantity plus original refills.
On the other hand, if the original prescription is for only
30 tablets, one daily, and the patient has lots of extra
money, or insurance coverage, and they ask me to "double
the prescription"...I first must call the prescriber for
a new prescription for the increased quantity.
This may or may not be the case in other states in USA,
nor in other countries.  Consult with your local pharmacy
regulatory body for the exact terms in your locality.
Maybe this explained it...
C U L8R!
Wiz  <{;-)

Wizard57M
Glenn Gilbreath Jr.
Registered Pharmacist
http://members.surfbest.net/wizard57m@surfbest.net/index.htm
-- DOS Internet, Close Windows and Keep the Internet Open! --

How does that constitue "playing doctor"?

Aimee, Doctor of Pharmacy
playing doctor every day.

Though this answers a question you didn't ask here's food for thought: A physician I know
(in Internal Medicine) was a pharmacist for five years (three years hospital pharmacy and
two years in retail) who returned to school for his M.D. He often told me that his years in
pharmacy school and time spent working in the field contributed immeasurably to his skills
as a doctor and further stated that he thought ALL prospective M.D.'s should take the same
number of chemistry, biochemistry and pharmacology courses that pharmacists do.

My question is not "Should pharmacists play doctor?" It is, "Shouldn't more doctors
play pharmacist?"

Hank